Army Lt., NFL player to speak at local church

A U.S. Army Lieutenant who also plays football for the Kansas City Chiefs will be in Carthage to speak to a local church this weekend.

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By John Hacker

The Carthage Press

By John Hacker

Posted Jun. 21, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jul 24, 2012 at 8:33 PM

By John Hacker

Posted Jun. 21, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jul 24, 2012 at 8:33 PM

CARTHAGE, Mo.

A U.S. Army Lieutenant who also plays football for the Kansas City Chiefs will be in Carthage to speak to a local church this weekend.

Caleb Campbell, who plays defensive back for the Chiefs, will speak at 10:30 a.m., Sunday at the Faith Life Worship Center, 736 E. Fairview Ave.

Campbell was on the Chiefs’ practice squad last year but he’ll be battling for a roster spot in the coming year.

He attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and was drafted by the Detroit Lions in 2008. He planned to sign a rookie contract and pursue a career in the NFL under the U.S. Military’s “Alternative Service Option.”

He was on his way to training camp when the Army changed its interpretation of that rule at the last minute and ordered him to serve two years active duty before entering the NFL.

While some athletes might be bitter about the Army changing its rules at the last minute, Campbell is humble and looks on the decision as “bittersweet.”

“A lot of people think it set me back,” Campbell told The Carthage Press. “It was a good time for me to reevaluate what was important in life, learn more about myself and be exposed to some things in my life that needed to be changed, so that part was great because I matured as a human being.

“It was also detrimental to my success on the field because I went two years without seeing the mental side of football, seeing yourself on the practice field, being in the plays, being in practice. I can stay in shape, that’s not a problem, but not being in the game itself, that’s what detrimental because that’s more than half the battle.”

Campbell said staying humble in the NFL takes work, but it is important.

“I always remind myself that I’m in that situation but I’m not of that situation, in that world but not of that world,” Campbell said. “I work on keeping a humble mind and the perspective that it’s not about me on a daily basis. Waking up and purposely thinking that is critical because it is easy to get lost in that world which is not real life.”

Campbell said he hopes to inspire others with his testimony.

“I’m looking forward to speaking this weekend,” he said. “Whenever you can go through a trial or go through a hardship in life and you can be a blessing to another person because of this hardship, it’s a humbling experience. I’ve been blessed with this platform and having an opportunity to impact another person’s life, I’m learning more and more that that’s what life is all about.”